Relax a Little

Good advice. Relax A LOT! It is Sunday, the Day of Rest.

"Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are." -Chinese proverb, quoted in Feb10 Reader's Digest.

Do something today that is just for you. It isn't being selfish. It is rejuvenating, so you can help others later. No guilt.

The one thing I do for me: nap. Luxuriously. With ear plugs and a microwaved warm rice bag for my back (thanks Emma) and my feet (my old lime green one).
(Saturday picture-to show Emma the headboard)

I look forward to my Sunday after-Church-and-lunch naps.

How Sunday is different from other days in our home:

1. Two meals as a family-lunch, dinner. Rarely breakfast, and sometimes it is hot and not boxed! (Early childhood skill is learning how to open a new box of cereal and eating it dry until they can pour the milk by themselves. I used to put a smaller pitcher of milk in the fridge, so they could reach that solo, and spill less in their quest for independence.)

2. No TV in our house (this is funny. We have no cable for money-saving reasons, but we do download shows and watch on the computers, but not on Sundays, as a personal family rule. It is not a Mormon commandment, just what we have decided).

3. Three-plus hours at Church. John leaves earlier for leadership meetings.

4. Family Home Evening in addition to our usual family devotional-scripture reading and singing and praying, so we get a lesson in, a game, treats, family council correlating, calendaring, etc.

5. Kids interact more, gaming, talking, playing with each other. No friends over--it is a family day. We are resting from our social peers.

6. No shopping. Yes gas, if we are travelling to family events, but we try and plan so that doesn't have to happen (full tank the night before, treats in car, etc.)

7. No sewing/painting for me. Personal commitment. A way for me to make Sunday unique and reserved.

We still cook, and make messes, and do dishes. Spend time with extended family. Email/blog/skype more with far-away family. It is nice having grandparents and cousins two blocks away, but we still have to make appointments to gather.

What do you do for your day of rest?

Do you do it for religious reasons, or other?

Gifts of the Heart

I have an emotional reaction to jewelry. I tell people I don't like bling. Not like sparkle G-ma Billie who drips wonderfully in coordinated outfits and jewels.

I like sentimental stuff.

I love my engagement diamond (Billie gave it to Johnny when he told her he was going to ask me to marry him. She said, "You better!").

I love my CTR $14.99 silver ring. Because it reminds me to Choose The Right. Remember The Covenants, reading it backwards.

I have some favorite earrings, leather punched dangly daises that I wear at least once a week because they remind me of being an artist in high school, wearing flip-flops and jeans and hippy flowered shirts.

I've told John to PLEASE DO NOT BUY ME JEWELS. I would rather have IKEA furniture.

It is a nice thought. Nice gesture. He showes me he loves my by doing laundry.

Wish they made mass media commercials that glorified the helpful husband as incredibly sexy and loving. That's real life, for me!

Orange by Design or Default?

I love this color!

When I was 10 or so I had a bright, fluorescent orange swimsuit that I remember choosing at the store. It is a happy, exuberant, energetic color for me. I didn't wear it as a teenager (the camoflauge years, trying to blend in and NOT be noticed) but started to wear it 10 years ago after one of those color-make-up-make-overs. The expert told me I glowed in orange and really looked good in it.

Hmmm. Brown hair, golden-brown eyes, freckles, easily blushes. And orange? I was dubious, but started to wear it anyway.

I get more compliments when I wear pink. NONE in black. Some in light blue. Some in orange. Some in rust. Some in the right shade of green (sometimes it makes my red face look redder, by contrast).

Not that I let compliments control my life or color choices! I do know color is very subjective and influential. Powerful colors. Whimpy colors. Colors that make you feel good, or at home. Colors that repel you, either with memories or visceral/emotional reactions; colors that hurt your eyes or soothe you instantly.

Mom chose dark teal green curtains for the living room when we lived in San Jose. I have the same color curtains now in my living room. They just look "right" to me.

When Stewart and Max were little I would choose orange for Stewart, green for Max. Toothbrushes, coats, blankets, cups. It was an easy way to keep track of what was whose stuff, with just over a year between them in age, they looked almost like twins. Now if you ask them what their favorite color are today, they say...orange, and green, respectively.

Is that weird? Do parents suggest/influence?

Car Dreams

A married couple walking by asked, "Aren't you supposed to be in a swimsuit?"

Reflections

Please visit Tiffany's "Likely Stories" for a Valentine's Day gift plug! Who do you know that needs a cute bow tie?
(That's my oblique way of asking you to buy some of my bow ties)


Untouched photo in car shooting at moon roof. This was the end of our Malldate photos. It is nice to hang out with someone I trust and can have fun with doing silly things. I never feel made fun of by him. I feel safe.

Holding Hands Through Good & Hard Times

Dream-I talked about my tower room remodeling dream at the dinner table, a place to read, with windows on all four sides, soft pillows, plenty of light, comfortable. John laughed delightedly, "A $50,000 remodel for a place to read?" He isn't making fun of me. Window seats, built-ins, a huge mud-room, landscaped yard (we found some bamboo on non-private land that I may be able to transplant to create the privacy screen I want!) all house dreams that are on hold for now.

Believe-I believe things will get better. John says I am a mystic in many ways, even if I scoff at superstitions. As soon as I am patient, and accept what is happening, will the trial end? Is it my fault, my lack of acceptance that is keeping John from finding a job? No, I don't believe that.

Imagine-new colors, new possibilities to use what we have. New quilts, new paintings/murals. New talents discovered. New books. Old and new friends over for dinners. Old bad habits pushed out.

We listened to "The Spoken Word" on the way to Church Sunday, talking about the Wright Brothers and their greatness, doing the hard work, discovering by doing ordinary acts over and over and perfecting them by trial.

My life is filled with lots of ordinary acts. I hope for greatness in just enduring to the end.

Which Way Are We Going?

I ran away from home on Saturday. I had so much I had to do here and just ran away.

Only for 6 hours. I drove east and south, and turned onto that road directing me to "Slaughter Beach." Always wondered if that meant an actual beach.

It was great seeing the waves crashing. Deserted. Cool rocks on the sand. I saw dolphins. Picked a direction and started walking.

I walked with a somewhat-sarcastic-angry prayer in my heart "I am looking for TREASURE!" I even had a specific amount in mind, how much our family needs to get by each month. How much money we need so I could stay home again and be a house mom. I have been shocked at how much I miss being home. Realizing how much I have taken for granted. I felt burned out. Tired. Discouraged.

As I walked I started picking up rocks. They were beautiful, and I kept finding more and more amazing ones. I put them in my orange (of course!) polar fleece jacket pockets. They got heavier and heavier, but I kept finding one more beautiful one I couldn't bear to leave on the beach. Then I started thinking of great object lessons I could use them for in daily seminary--the 21 kids I teach every school day at 5:55 am (no wonder I am tired, you might be thinking). And realized abruptly how those students are my treasures.

And the lyrics to the Hymn "Did You Think to Pray" came to mind. Loudly.

"When sore trials came upon you,
Did you think to pray?
When your soul was full of sorrow,
Balm of Gilead did you borrow?
At the gates of day?"

I brought home the sandy rocks. There are 98 of them. Plus one shell and two pieces of driftwood.

Sunday in Church another hymn made me cry: "How Gentle God's Commands"

"His Goodness stands approved,
Unchanged from day to day;
I'll drop my burden at this feet
And bear a song away."

That was me on the beach, adding rocks to my pockets, slowly burdening myself, unwilling to cast them on the Lord. Feeling stubborn. Pitiful. Woe-is-me pity party.

I came home. Talked with John. Talked more this morning. He is a good man, full of hope and faith that things will be okay. Went to Church and was glad to be there.

When people asked how I was, I could say I was thankful to be there. As opposed to lounging illegally in some one's empty beach-vacation home. I didn't say that last part. Long confessionals are hard to dump on people in the hallway at Church when they are expecting a "Fine" answer.

Driving Miss Daisy/Peony/Sunflower

One of my favorite things to do is go here. It is hard to explain all the reasons, but I always feel better when we leave after serving. Friday night I learned more about humble prayers, how it is more important to be united and fill in any blanks in your mind so you can say "Amen" at the end than to be contrary or judgemental.

There is peace in unity.

To stay peaceful I bring decorating books or magazines to read so I don't have to watch the DC traffic maneuvering. Traffic makes me nervous, and it can quickly deteriorate into "good feelings gone" if I start giving advice to the driver.

A few sunshine days in a row and I am starting to think about spring planting. I love flowers, bunches of them growing everywhere in the yard. Flowers all over the house. My silk flower collection grew from my years of one little stem on sale indulgence, collecting one color until I have a big bunch. I don't even care that they are pretend. They look good from a distance.

Pulling these thoughts back to the temple: it is a beautiful place, beautiful to look at (decorated very well) but it is more than surface eye-candy. It feels good, too. Peaceful. United. Loving. Welcoming. Nurturing. Coordinated. Purposeful. Growing. Encouraging. Truthful. Full of light. Clear contrasts. Intentional. De-cluttered. Forgiving. Clean.

That's the kind of home I want. It has to look good, but more importantly, feel good.

And there will be flowers!

My Favorite From This Photo Shoot

Reasons to Laugh Out Loud

Organic vs. Bio. Tickling.

Trusty Ladder & Sore Thighs

After day one the stripes looked like this. Big and bold, but it looked unfinished (but I did like the un-even play of size width).

For every stripe you see I went up and down this trusty ladder 6 times. How many stripes do you see?

Hint: there are four repeats across the 13 foot wall and it starts with dark blue and ends before the next dark blue starts.

I think I need to charge more for this painting exercise program.

Missing Signs

This one is for Steven: my future sister-in-law has the same name and would probably choose the same font, feminine, classic, lady-like.

I finished painting this Wednesday before the 3 year old Alyssa's nap time.


Another Mall Date photo. We tried to imagine what could have been bolted to the mall wall here. I thought they looked like bullet holes.

I am having trouble saving photos in Picasa --or I would show you the incredible vertical stripy nursery I finished. I used two rolls of "delicate" edge lock blue painter's tape, and would recommend it.

Weird Blue Dragon

Dragon breath. Dragon hoard. Time to de-clutter.

Our Relief Society now has a monthly swap, bring what you don't want/aren't using. We sort them by subject, and then browse, take home what we want, and the rest is donated to the Clothing & Housewares exchange in Baltimore. It is like DI, but FREE. Great way to re-cycle. Each ward donates a month of Saturdays twice a year to organize and sort.

Twice a Year?

I am trying to think what other things are semi-annual? NOT dating! General Conference. Stake Conference. Deep house-cleaning (end of summer when kids go back to school and after Christmas).

What do you do only twice a year?

I don't have photos yet of yesterday's painted nursery--I have to go back tomorrow and finish up the cars and names. Coming soon! But I came home and told John the stripes looked awesome. Straight stripes, from careful measuring and taping like crazy. And touch-up, but the client doesn't need to know that part. What they can't see, they don't need to know about.

Today is more census testing. Smile, be accurate and quick, efficient and friendly.

Kids are all home with John because of teacher inservice. It is hard to not resent my working when they can stay home and play and have Lord of the Rings marathon.

I should feel more thankful. I am thankful.

Time To Be Busy

Painting today for a client: nursery with stripes and cars for new baby boy and big sister's name in her room.

Winter Blocks & Fashion Advice

For the Wild Threads winter block exchange I made variations on this theme. I was going to spell out "freezing" in embroidery, and got number inspiration instead!
This is for Emma, show and tell belt: stretchy elastic with 3 rows of faux leather ruffles.

Dresses up any shirt!

There Will Be Games

We aren't really sports-watchers. This is a little local color thrown in to show you we are minimally aware of what is going on around here (I need brother-by-marriage Bob to explain).

Another photo from our mall date last Friday!

There Will Be A Cruise

Thanks to Amy & Erik we went on a cruise last night! Cruising the Harford Mall! They gave us a gift certificate to Bonefish Grill* for our birthdays. We got there early and still had a 55 minute wait for a table so we took their beeper and went through the mall.

This was one of my favorite picture spots. As we were getting into place in front of the sign (we asked first, "May we take a picture of your sign?") the booth owner came and took the photo for us and a whole passel of teenagers politely stopped so they wouldn't walk in front of the picture.

When I laugh this hard my eyes don't open very wide.

*Did you know they give you a free dessert on your birthday? Our server brought out the best key lime pie I have ever eaten with a lit candle--no fanfare or whole restaurant singing, just personal and perfect. And the fish was excellent, too!

There Will Be Angels

Three angel-ladies in our ward came over yesterday with 3 chicken pot pies and my favorite raspberry layered pretzel cheesecake salad-dessert. Just because.

And I got a card in the mail today with a sweet encouragement from another sister at church.

And an invitation for lunch tomorrow from another dear angel friend.

I feel like my prayers for comfort and peace during this current family spouse-workless trial has been answered by people being put in my path. I am reminded that the Lord has not forgotten me or my family.

The dinning room has not been red for months. And John goes beardless as EQ president. Another historical couple photo from 2008 Suzu's camera.

I had to look up how to spell this word before I used it in an email to my boss.

Long story.

I am thankful to be employed, but wishing I had benefits. Monday is a federal holiday and that just means I don't work, not that I get paid for not working.

I enjoy what I do--the people part of it, and being careful and accurate. I come home for lunch with John when I am working in the same city as I live. I put up posters in 40 different establishments Wednesday. Talked to some fascinating people!

I come home at the end of the day, kiss the cook, and start thinking about painting again. Deliberate, constructive thoughts, on what I would change. The bright sunshine that streams in through the living room picture window is cooled down by the dark teal walls, but I remember how much I liked the cool light green I painted on my parents living room wall, and I think about change.

Orange really is my favorite color almost always, but I love green, too. Our kitchen is "green" by 1950 tile definition, so it could be a green house, not as trendy, fuel-efficient, re-cylcing "green" as John would like (I think re-cycling is ugly, the pile of garbage it creates, waiting to be carted off) but more palette green-related and coordinated.

I want to over-dye the wool carpet in the living room. (I saw an ad in a decorating magazine that was selling refurbished, over-dyed Persian rugs and got excited thinking about the possibilities of making a rug more ME and more colorful, less traditional and really want to try it when it is warm enough outside to dye on the front lawn since the rug won't fit in my washer or even the bathtub. Look for a future post with show and tell photos!) Hint: acid dyes work on wool. THINK KOOL-AID, without the sugar! Does beautiful things to wool and wood, if you believe me.

Who would be shocked if I painted a room white on purpose?

There Will Be Colorful History

I really like this image. Partly because of the crazy trees behind us, making funny hair-dos! I love how much character you can see in a silhouette.

I can't leave this photo alone. I keep trying different combinations of colors, experimenting. It has become a kind of icon for me, representing us, the married WE, me and my spouse, symbol of husband loves wife.

I think it might turn into a quilt, wall-hanging, mural, canvas work, something. T-shirt? Mugs, rugs, pillows. I think pillows on our bed, one for him, one for me, meeting in the middle, maybe for Valentine Day gift.

Photos taken Monday with timer (by John. I hadn't done it until yesterday, really! But just wait, more coming!).

There Will Be Toys

This is the first picture I have ever taken using the timer. I hurt myself sliding across the kitchen floor to be included in this shot. Bruises heal. And look, that smile is real.
Our kids have outgrown baby toys. We pull plates and measuring cups out to play with now.

And our favorite baby thought this ball had great texture. She is very patient with us as we goof around trying to make her smile and laugh.

The cantaloupe-ball made a delicious dinner. I came home from working to the smells of John crock-potting chicken, carrots, and he made potatoes, corn, GRAVY (this man can make the best gravy! I didn't know that until after we were married and he made me gravy on our honeymoon, but it was a great perk of him serving a full-time LDS mission in Oklahoma, and learning from the pros where they do gravy righteously!)

There Will Be Kissing

Yes, there was kissing yesterday, too. "Quilting-Mural-Making-Kissing..." blog?

This is what we looked like Monday am from the other direction, pointed away from the sun, camera in my hand. I notice a pattern of me choosing the same sparkly shirt as I wore at last Friday to the wrestling match, and same one in Facebook pictures from New Year's Eve party. I guess it is my new favorite shirt (thrift store new, $1.50, whoo-HA!).

John is taking Max downtown to be on tv with MSB and when he gets back I leave for work (test site is across the street, very convenient). Our favorite baby comes over to play, so I will see her when I am home for lunch (again, very convenient).

Still itching to paint.

Client BeckyT: your temple quilt has begun in earnest! It is going to be marvelous! I will show sneak peaks soon.

Timing It Just Right

It took us a few tries to get the rising sun behind us in the right spot. Sometimes, timing is everything. Being in the right place at the right time with the right person.

I rejoiced yesterday listening to uplifting talks about learning from our trials and adversities. I wrote a list out to John in our nightly Love Journals about possible lessons I should be learning, including valuing my time at home, serving others (subject of our family home evening lesson), patience, humility, gratitude, depending on others (a hard one for independent me), and thriftiness (I thought I was doing that already. Always room for improvement on how to use our resources better.)

Enduring to the end is not the lesson I want to be learning.

And that was just me guessing.

John asked me if I have prayed for comfort, not just prayed for him to get a job, but asked for peace and reassurance.

No, I guess not.

I've been specific in trying to quantify our needs. Trying to ask for what I think our family requires to fulfill our duties and callings and exercise our talents and missions in life.

If you have time to read a modern psalm, my brother-by-marriage, Roger's blog, has a beautiful written prayer, thoughts of his heart. I've been thinking a lot about how Nephi prayed over everything, his family, his animals, his crops, his enemies. And if I should be praying for help in learning the lesson this challenge needs to teach me so we can move on to the next test in life.

John has told me he is thankful our trial is just a financial one, and not me sick again, or a death or accident of a loved one. We have extended family going through phsycial trials that are humbling and severe, hard to deal with.

Others are dealing with emotional or spiritual trials.

Trying to think of things I was grateful for I flippantly told someone I am thankful my husband is faithful and sober. She told me she wished she could say the same, and it put me in my place. Sobered me up. Money trial is nothing, thinking of that possible heartache.

We never know what others are going through, unless we ask and listen and love them anyway, support them however humbly we can.

Sabbath Hopeful Thoughts

I figured out how to erase wrinkles--highlight them away (only works in 2-D).

I am trying to cast my burdens on the Lord today. Seeking comfort and peace. Waiting for some windows of heaven to open.

We've been blessed. We are surviving. Extended family and friends have really, really helped. We haven't had to ask Church for help.

I am grateful.

And impatient.

And tired of my many jobs. I would love to just be painting for fun. (Wouldn't we all? I think that, but I have met people who HATE to paint! They need my services! I am itching to try a new color in the living room and I really want a new color in our bedroom, again. I have gallons of supplies downstairs in my color mixing lab, so painting is no-cost entertainment for me. There is just stuff in the way and crazy living going on and I don't paint on Sundays, to honor the Maker of the day, so it will have to wait for my next at-home weekday block of time!)

John told me this morning that a friend at Church showed him a new resume format: bulletin points instead of paragraph form, so he is going to redo his this week, start again. Three plus months of job-less-ness and counting. Praying. Actively doing all he can. He is getting really good at the house-husband part, but I am not making even half of what he was for the Department of Transportation, so it is not a good thing for our family.

We had been praying for financial stability and help in figuring out the best way to use our resources BEFORE he lost his job with the state. In many ways it doesn't make sense. Someday, I hope to look back and see this as an incredible learning and faith-strengthening experience.

I know God lives. I know He knows me, and loves me as His daughter. I know He hears our prayers. And I have had specific, real, memorable experiences in the past when He has answered my prayers and blessed me. I have seen miracles. I have been convinced fortuitous events were not coincidences. I just have to remember those today. Stay faithful. Stay true to my commitments and covenants and promises and just endure to the end. I have to hang in here/there/everywhere.

And have hope.

Be steadfast.

Immovable.

Good.

Kind.

Serve others and stop thinking of my own problems for a minute.

We had a delayed opening due to snow Friday and missed seminary. One of the things I was going to talk about is enduring to the end. Must remember to do that Monday morning.

Max almost doesn't fit on the sofa anymore when he is stretched out. He goes on tour next week with Maryland State Boychoir and will miss some school days.

Today we will go to Church together, eat together, do family sing-scripture together, hopefully SKYPE tonight with extended family (I still don't get the how-to-coordinate/connect/make appointment part of it--and I go to bed so early for seminary that I fear the party just gets started when I have to leave!).

Watching Our Children Grow Up!!!

As I was looking for quilt pictures for my "So You Think You Can Quilt" entry (see my sidebar link to Brown Paper Packages, if you want to join the fun!) I found some hidden gems. Roxie has lost her baby cheeks and will be taller than me someday soon. My babies are growing up quickly. Blink, and they will all be gone to college (if we survive 6th grade with Sam searching for something good to report about every day at school and dealing with bullies).

Another picture from Suzu's 2008 camera. She has gone to Hilton Head with a friend and her grandma for a couple of summers in a row. I love that we are finally seeing photos of the good times they had. I tweaked some of her photos, cropped like crazy, bleached out the colors the way the sun does on the hot summer sandy beach (thinking nice warm thoughts). They look more like college friends than teenagers.

Stewart is a powerhouse wrestler. Last night he warned John (the cook) as he sat down that he would only have one piece of the delicious-smelling chicken so he can make weight this morning for an away match. (It was really good chicken! John brine-ed it--soak meat covered in water + 1/4 cup salt overnight to force the cells to expand and make the meat moister and then cooked it in a yummy marinade. He generously says I am a good teacher.)

Week Day Date idea: go watch a wrestling match together. Fun cheering for Stewart. (He is the wrestler on the left above.) Photo credits: John. Crop & Color by Mom-Me! John reminds me that three !!! is not professional!

A YEAR Ago?

Suzanna downloaded photos from her camera card, and this was one of them, from 2008 Christmas. I put up the sparkly pine cone wreath in the same place and the front hall by the door is still yellow, so it fooled me, thinking it was just 2009 Christmas. But John has a beard, and the living room is different painted.

Two hour delayed school because of snowfall. Day off of seminary. And work delayed (I am scheduled to give a census test at the church across the street, and they follow the school snow plan).

It is a malt-o-meal with vanilla ice cream kind of morning!

Playful Partners

I gave in after a dozen of John's attempts at taking a couple photo without my cooperation. He makes it really hard to concentrate, sometimes.

This is me really trying to concentrate and work and studiously ignoring my husband. John says there is a meme (no, I didn't just mis-spell name. Meme. Google it.) for these kinds of photos, "photo bomb", with the bridesmaids all posed and the janitor sticking his goofy grin in the photo frame. Uninvited posing? Must research such silliness. We were photo-bombed by Tiffany back in early December at the ward Christmas party: we are posing and she inserted herself into the picture--that is the idea. Bunny ears optional.

Everything is Going to Be Okay, Someday

It is mostly okay now. Lots to be thankful for each day I wake up and can get out of bed. I love that school is back in session and I have 21 teenagers to teach every morning! They are inspiring, exciting, sometimes sleepy. Most of the time sleepy. This morning one of the students showed me a painting he did for art class--looked very iron rod thematically, nice work.

Little miracle was being home when Emma called, twice (I came home for lunch to play with our favorite baby Peach Pit who learned how to wave AND clap since last week!) so we could talk about the class shopping she is doing, trying to find a good fit for her schedule and future work plans. She is going to London in the spring and thinking about changing her major.

I spent some time teaching a good friend how to crochet the edges of flannel receiving blankets. They look like this-(I get $30 a blanket, but I am thinking about Etsy selling them for a little more...)

Then I did some recruiting in the 33 degree windy weather--with good conversations. It is a lot like missionary tracting--stopping people and asking if they know anyone who is looking for work, and using all my local contacts, asking them to post flyers and brochures at their businesses. Lots of smiling. My favorite un-coincidence was running into a couple from Church and giving them info and the wife saying, "This is an answer to my prayer." Another man earlier in the day said the same thing. I believe when we do what we should be doing, God uses us to help people. It felt like that kind of day.

I have a blister on my right heel from walking so much today.

And I came home and John was cooking wonderful white sauce for ravioli and he was clean-shaven, just for my kisses.

Profile on the Run

Black and white version from Sunday's sitting, Stewart photographer.

John has been taking pictures of us all morning, but I don't have time to download them before I run out the door. We are still in love. John is babysitting today for me as I run recruiting posters around the county.

Family Photos Before Emma Leaves

Family portrait tips we have learned: squish together, and then move even closer. Outside lighting does nice things, and still use the flash to even out shadows. Take lots, and than take ten more.Before Emma left again for BYU we took family pictures. Last year was white-on-white. This year: dark clothes, so our faces pop. I can't crop this one in any closer to make the background solid. Must try bigger backgrounds.
We've been doing these couple photos so long that we have names for profile-kissing shots: his nose in front.
And my nose featured. It looks like we fit together like puzzle pieces. Grin.

Mom-Jane, this is the one we will send you 8x10 in color for your family wall! (Attention siblings: please send her current, up-dated family pictures!)